Nutmeg

Nutmeg is the dried inner seed of the tropical evergreen Myristica fragrans, a glossy egg-shaped kernel grated to a warm, sweet, woody-spicy powder. The same fruit yields a second spice — mace, the lacy crimson web (aril) that wraps the seed — so one tree gives two flavours at once. It scents béchamel and eggnog, pumpkin pie and biryani, mulled wine and the Italian mortadella.